Euonymus plant named ‘Hayman’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Euonymus  plant named ‘Hayman’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounding plant habit; relatively rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; relatively small and fine leaves; and attractive autumn leaf color.

Botanical designation: Euonymus alata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HAYMAN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Euonymus plant, grown as an ornamental shrub, botanically known as Euonymus alata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Hayman’.

The new Euonymus plant originated from an open-pollination during the autumn of 2000 of Euonymus alata ‘Rudy Haag’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Euonymus alata as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Euonymus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor during the autumn of 2002 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Louisville, Ky.

Asexual reproduction of the new Euonymus plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Louisville, Ky. since the spring of 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Euonymus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Euonymus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Hayman’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Hayman’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Euonymus:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Relatively rapid growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Relatively small and fine leaves.     -   5. Attractive autumn leaf color.

Plants of the new Euonymus differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Rudy Haag’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Euonymus are larger than plants of ‘Rudy         Haag’.     -   2. Plants of the new Euonymus grow faster than plants of ‘Rudy         Haag’.     -   3. Plants of the new Euonymus are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Rudy Haag’.     -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Euonymus are smaller and finer         than leaves of plants of ‘Rudy Haag’.     -   5. Plants of the new Euonymus and ‘Rudy Haag’ differ in autumn         leaf color.

Plants of the new Euonymus can be compared to plants of Euonymus alata ‘Compacta’, not patented. Plants of the new Euonymus differ from plants of ‘Compacta’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Euonymus are much smaller than plants of         ‘Compacta’.     -   2. Plants of the new Euonymus are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Compacta’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Euonymus are smaller and finer         than leaves of plants of ‘Compacta’.     -   4. Plants of the new Euonymus and ‘Compacta’ differ in autumn         leaf color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Euonymus plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Euonymus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Hayman’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘Hayman’ grown in an outdoor nursery during the autumn.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Grand Haven, Mich., under commercial practice in containers in an outdoor nursery. Plants were 3.5 years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euonymus alata ‘Hayman’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Euonymus alata ‘Rudy Haag’, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Euonymus             alata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 15 days at temperatures of 25°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 65 days at             temperatures of 25° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; brown and             creamy white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact, upright and mounding plant habit;             relatively rapid growth rate; freely branching habit, about             46 lateral branches per plant; pinching enhances lateral             branch development; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 54 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Internode length:             About 2 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 20° to 30° from             main stem axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; four-ridged.             Color, developing: Close to 165A. Color, developed: Close to             137A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate to whorled, simple.         -   Length.—About 4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 141A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144C. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 137C; in the autumn, color becomes closer to 53B to             53D. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D;             venation, close to 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 138B. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been     observed on plants of the new Euonymus. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Euonymus have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Euonymus. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Euonymus have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about −25° C. to about 37° C. 

1. A new and distinct Euonymus plant named ‘Hayman’ as illustrated and described. 